April 6 onwards, the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has announced a four-day general strike and a ‘big’ rally. The government has vowed to foil the protest programs. What will happen?
The general expectations of mass are: the mobile services (or maybe telephone service) will be disrupted; the imposition of curfew and a few thousands people demonstrating with police using tear-gas, water cannons and latthis on them.
Minister of State for Information and Communication, Shrish Shumser Rana on March 31 said that the government could impose curfew and disconnect communication services if needed to foil the protest programs.
Home Minister Kamal Thapa has been aggressively spilling words against the SPA and the scheduled program expecting it to be violent because of involvement of Maoists. He has even warned of state of emergency in a television interview.
He claimed that the government has credible information of Maoist infiltration in the SPA-called general strikes in the capital and there was “high possibility of escalation of violence”. “If the situation goes out of control the government can declare a state of emergency in accordance with constitutional provisions,” he said.
Home Ministry has even asked the general people to avoid travelling to the capital as far as possible through an official notice.
The program has become an issue of pride for both the SPA and the government. If it is successful, the political parties trying to initiate a fight for democracy will win. If it is foiled, the government, especially ministers, would start announcing people are not supporting the SPA (and would claim they are for the King’s rule).
I can’t understand why political parties wanted to have a ‘big rally’ on the day of strike. How they expect their cadres and people to reach the rally. If they expect a large number of people would walk by a long way to join them, it seems unlikely. They could have first held a rally.
The government has previously imposed curfew to foil the protests so I see no reason why they wouldn’t see it ‘not needed’. To stop people from gathering, the only means the government seemed to have known is the communication so I am just waiting my mobile to stop working and my telephone line going dead for a few hours.
United We Blog 
Comments
6 responses to “April Uprising: What to Expect?”
The political parties are getting what they asked for.
I still hope their rallies are successful in the end. But I won’t be dissapointed if a policeman strikes Girija, Sujata and Deuba with their stick several times.
I wish that.
http://www.nepalisongs.info
two news:
girija wants big rally in kathmandy city.
prachanda declares temporary no military action in kathmandu city.
both leaders has high expactations from kathmanduiets one like 1990. that movement ended in reconciliation and we all accepted the result. but afterward communists were there on street on a daily basis, they vandalized city property, disrupted local and international business. makune and cronies set a record kathmandu shutdowns. these ruthless communist extorted money from local businessmen. nobody know why makune and other communists were so angry with us. there were no end to ordeal and nobody gave a damn.
so expectation of leaders above is no good sign for kathmanduiets–meaning more trouble ahead for kathmanduiets. in the past it was communists, now its maoists. i can not imagine what distruction plan they have to unleash on kathmanduiets but it must be worse than past. sorry we are done with it and expectation is wrong.
PAwan,
The term “communist” defintaley seems derogatory with makune’s UML , ML, maoists other dozens leftist united fronts. But they along with other “communists” and “congressis” are certainly good at rallying people behind in a mass with a common voice( we nepalese are bahadur so we are buddhus aren’t we?) with leaders’ slick bhasans. It is definately good that there will be vocal support for peace and traquility in Nepal. But when it comes to the adminsitration of Nepal every one has known that Makune GPK and their followers are remorseless power grabbing vultures so might be prachanda and Baburam with Military Gernals karnels and our present king showing their current form.
but i wont be disappointed if a cop accidentally press the trigger and flying bullet hit bamdev or jhalanath. too bad makune wont be there.
It sounds like the Minister of State for Information and Communication knew exactly how things would transpire.
Now if only a prediction could be made for the progress of the movement in upcoming years.
Jessica
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http://jaotte.wordpress.com